Storage-tank.



F, G; mom-:asow.

STORAGE TANK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, I9I5.

Patented Feb. 5,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- F. G. D\CKERSON.

STORAGE TANK. APPucATioN HLED MAY 29. m5.

Patented-Feb. 5, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEE[ 2 FRED G. DICKERSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINDIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 MOJONNIEB. BROS. (30., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A GORPORA'JZION OF MAINE.

STORAGE-TANK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5, 191%...

Application filed May 29, 1915. Serial No. 31,107.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LFRED G. Droknnson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Storage-Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to storage or holdover tanks, and while it isprimarily designed for the storing of milk, it is equally adaptable for a similar purpose to any liquid, as it has for its object the storage of fluids for any period, simultaneously agitating the fluid and maintaining it at a constant uniform temperature.

In canning milk, it is very desirable and often necessary to hold a quantity of milk twenty-four or more hours before it is passed to the evaporating pans. WVhen this is done, the prior systems of refrigeration and storage are not at all satisfactory. The present tank is designed for this purpose, and overcomes the undesirable features of the prior storage tanks or systems.

With the above and other objects in View, as will hereinafter be apparent, this inven tion consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts all as here-. inafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the tank forming the subject-matter of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse, vertical section taken along line 2-2 of F ig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 33 of Fig. 2, to illustrate the arrangement of the gas intake and exhaust passages for refrigeration purposes;

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken along line 1-4 of Fig. 2, to illustrate the gas intake through a ported ring;

Fig. 5 is likewise an enlarged vertical section taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 2, to illustrate the gas exhaust through a ported ring;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of one of the ported rings;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the gas intake and exhaust mechanism.

Reference being had more particularly to the drawings, 10 designates a metal tank, which may be constructed of any suitable material, and which is surrounded by a casing or shell 11 of insulating material, such as cork, asbestos or other non-conductor of heat. While obviously the position of this tank 10 forms no part of the present inven tion, it has, however, been found that, by having the long axis of the tank horizontal and the head thereof vertical, better results, particularly in connection with refrigeration and agitation, have been obtained.

In order to deliver the fluid to the tank 10, a supply pipe 12 pierces the casing or shell 11 and the tank 10, terminating in a plate 13 and flush with the inner surface of the said tank. Adjacent to the inner terminal of the supply pipe 12 is a vane or plate 14 which, when the incoming liquid strikes it, sprays said liquid over the refrigerating coil or coils, which will be hereinafter more fully described.

Diametrically opposed to the supply pipe 12 is a liquid outlet pipe 15, which likewise terminates in a plate 15 and flush with the inner surface of the tank 10. Both the supply and outlet pipes 12 and 15 respectively are provided with valves (not shown), whereby the flow to and from the tank 10 may be regulated.

A pillow block or bearing 17 is secured to the inner surface of the tank 10 at one end of the horizontal diameter thereof, in the same vertical plane as the supply and outlet pipes 12 and 15. This pillow block or hearing receives one end of a shaft 18, which is provided with a longitudinal cavity 19 in the end thereof received by said pillow block or bearing, wherein is housed a coil spring 20 interposed between the bottom of said cavity and the pillow block, thereby normally tending to force the shaft from the block or bearing. In this manner, all wear about the parts passing through the tank (which will hereinafter be described) will be automatically taken up and compensated for to prevent any possible leakage of the liquid within the tank. This arrangement makes the shaft 18 compensating, in that it neutralizes and takes up all ordinary Wear. At its opposite end, the shaft 18 is either attached to, or formed integral with, a head 21, which carries a gas conduit casing 22.

Radiating from the head 21 and at an acute angle to the horizontal plane, is one or more refrigerating coil supporting rods 23, which are secured to said head, in any suitable manner, for rotation therewith. A refrigerating coil 24, formed of a single continuous pipe, is mounted on the rod 23 and 6 attached thereto by the collars or clamps 25. This coil is conical in its formation, having its apex' concentric with shaft 18 and in juxtaposition to the head 21. The inner end 24 of the pipe forming the coil 24 constitutes-the inlet of said pipe, and is therefore largement 26 in the head 21, wherein the inner end 24 of said coil is received, formmg a continuous passage from the gas intake to the outer end 24L of the coil. T his end 24: of the coil is received in the head 21 by an enlargement 27 of the passage 27. Inasmuch as the refrigerating gas enters the coil 24: under compression and leaves the coil expanded or expanding, the inlet passage 26 is circular in cross-section and smaller in size than the exhaust passage 27, the latter being of much greater cross-sectional area than the former, so that the incoming gas may be retained under a maximum compression. At its outer terminal the intake passage 26 is curved outwardly, as at 28, and pierces the wall of the casing 22 while the exhaust passage 27 extends somewhat beyond the curve 28 0f the intake passage, and there occupies the whole the casing 22 which is open at its outer end. i In order to rotate the casing 22, head 21, coil 24 and shaft 18, the casing pierces the tank 10 and shell 11 by means of'a bearing 22 and bushing 30 secured to the tank 10, afndhas a sprocket wheel, gear, pulley, or other similar device, 31, keyed thereto. By this means,when power is applied to the element 31 it will rotate the casing 22, shaft 18, head 21, and coil 24, giving the'necessary agitation to the fluid content of the tank; at the same time, any leakage is prevented by means of the spring 20, which maintains an intimate contact between the head 21 and casing 22, and the bushing 30 and bearing 29'. To provide a means for supplying gas to the intake passage 26 and exhausting the expanded gas from the passage 2?, the protruding portion of the casing 22 beyond the element 31 is surrounded by a stationary housing 32, upon one side of whichis an intake supply pipe 33 and upon the opposite side thereof is an exhaust pipe 3%. The

pipes 32 and 3a communicate with the interior of the housing, in such a manner that the intake pipe 33 is in the plane of move: ment of the curved portion 28 of the intake passage 26; while the exhaust pipe is adjaman the open end of the casing 22. Ad-

iacent to the driving element 31, the housing 32 is provided with a lip 32" which closely embraces the casing 22, and against which is placed the packing 36. )1 ring (Fig. 6), having the beads 35 at each end, encircles the casing 22 next to the packing 36, the beads 35* thereof completely occupying the space between the housing 32 and the casing 22. T he body 35 of this ring is ported, as at 35 in the plane of the curved end 28 of the intake passage 26 and the intake supply pipe 33; thus forming a means of direct communication between the supply pipe 33 and the intake passage 26, irrespective of the radial or rotary position of the curved end 28 of said passage.

Likewise, a, similar ported ring 35 is mounted adjacent to the exhaust pipe 31 and the outer open end of the casing 22, said ring being separated from the ring at the intake supplypipe 33 by the packing 37. In this manner the second ported ring provides a means of communication between the exhaust passage 27 and the exhaust pipe 34:.

In order to retain all of the elements described in connection with intake and exhaust pipes 33 and 34: in their operative positions, the end of the housing 32 is provided with an outstanding flange 39, which is designed to cooperate with a like llunge 40 on a cylindrical clamp il, by means of the bolts l-2 piercing both of the flanges 39 and 4:0. The diameter of this cylindrical clamp 41 is such that it will be received within the housing 32 and bear upon the packing 38, which rests upon the outer bead 35 of the ported ring 35 cooperating with the exhaust pipe 34. This particular ported ring 35has hollow cap or head 43, formed on the bead 35 thereof, against which the pack ing 38 rests, said cap or head being embraced bythe clamp 41 so that it acts as a closure for the end of both the casing 22 and the housing 32. By this construction, the packings 36, 37 and 38 may be compressed, and the entire structural arrangement maintained by the clamp 4-1.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that refrigerating gas, under compression, in.

any quantity and for any period, may be fed into the coil while the same is being rotated to agitate the fluid, and the expanded gas exhausted therefrom.

It is to be understood that this tank can be used in connection with fresh milk, or milk after it has been condensed, and by its use many different qualities of milk may be mixed into a single batch, thereby creating a uniform product, which may then be canned.

\Vhile the present invention is primarily designed for storing milk, its use is unlimited; and its preferred form, as illustrated and described, may be changed with respect to its details without departing from the spirit and scope hereof.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a casing containing an exhaust and aninlet passage, the exhaust passage being longer and of greater cross-sectional area than the inlet passage,

. of a head provided with continuations of said passages, and a coil mounted on saidhead, formed of a continuous tube terminating in the continuations of the passages aforesaid.

2. The'combination with a tank, of an automatically compensating shaft arranged therein, a coil encircling said shaft, and means for feeding and exhausting gas to and from said coil.

3. The combination with a tank, of a shaft arranged therein, a casing extending through one wall of said tank and supported by said shaft, and'means cooperating with the shaft aforesaid for automatically compensating for the wear between the casing and the tank.

4. The combination with a tank, of a shaft therein, a casing extending through the wall of said tank, a head formed on said casing and supported by said shaft within the tank, said casing and head being provided with a plurality of passages, a coil connected to said passages and located within said tank, and means for rotating said casing and coil.

5. The combination with a tank, of a shaft therein, a casing extending through the wall of said tank, a head formed on said casing and supported by said shaft within the tank, said casing and head being provided with a plurality of passages, a coil connected to said passages and located within said tank, means for rotating said casing and coil, and means of communication between the passages of the casing and the exterior thereof irrespective of the radial or rotary position thereof.

6. The combination with a tank, of a rotary casing extending through the wall of the tank having gas conduits therein, an intake for one of said passages or conduits and an exhaust for the other of said passages or conduits, and means for providing a constant connection between said exhaust and intake and their respective passages, comprising a stationary housing in which said casing rotates, and direct connections through said housing to the passages of the casing.

7. The combination with a tank, of a rotary casing extending through the wall of the tank having gas conduits therein, an intake for one of said passages or conduits and an exhaust for the other of said passages or conduits, and means for providing a constant connection between said exhaust and intake and their respective passages,

ported rings at the terminals of said intake and exhaust pipes for supplying a constant means of connection between the latter and their respective passages in the easmg.

9. The combination with a tank, of a rotary refrigerating coil arranged therein, a

casing extending through the wall of the tank and adapted to rotate said coil, said casing being provided with passages for supplying gas to and exhausting it from said coil, a housing surrounding the projecting end of said casing, a supply pipe and an exhaust pipe secured to said housing, an indi vidual ported ring adjacent to the inner end of the intake pipe and of the exhaust pipe, each of said rings providing an annular chamber in constant communication with the respective passages of the casing.

10. The combination with a tank, of a casing mounted for rotation in the wall thereof and projecting from said wall, said casing being provided with a plurality of passages therein terminating at the outer end thereof at points along the longitudinal axis of said casing, and means of constant communication with each of said passages.

11. The combination with a tank, of a casing mounted for rotation in the wall thereof and projecting from said wall, said casing being provided with a plurality of passages therein, terminating at points along the longitudinal axis of said casing, at the outer end thereof, a housing arranged to receive the projecting end of said casing, a supply pipe connected with said housing and in constant communication with one of said passages, and an exhaust pipe connected with said casing and in constant communication with the other of said passages.

12. The combination with a tank, of a casing mounted for rotation in the wall thereof and projecting from said Wall, said casing being provided with a plurality of passages therein terminating at difi'erent points along the longitudinal axis of said casing, a housing arranged to receive the projecting end of said casing, a supply pipe connected with said housing in an alinement with the plane of the terminal of one end of said passage, a ring encircling said casingadjacent to said supply pipe, said ring being so constructed as to create a chamber forming means-of constant communication between said supply pipe and its'coeperating'passage, said chamber being separated by said ring from the remainder of the housing.

13. The combination with a tank, of a casing mounted for rotation in the wall thereof, and projecting from-said wall, said casing being provided with a plurality of passages therein terminating at points along the longitudinal axis of said casing, a housing arranged to receive the; projecting end of-said casing, a supply pipe connected with said housing in an alinement'with the plane of the terminal of one end of said passage, a ring encircling said casing adjacent to said supply pipe, said'ring being so constructed as to create a chamber forming means of constant communication between said, supply pipe and its coiiperating passage, said chamber being separated by said ring from the rema nder of the housing,

an exhaust pipe connected with the casing.

ing projecting through the wall thereof, a

head at the inner end of said casing, a shaft supporting said head, and resilient means cooperating With said shaft for compensating Ifor the wear betwccn'the tank, casing, and lead.

17. The combination of a tank, with a t bearing in the wall thereof, a casing projecting through said bearing and terminating in a head at its inner end, a shaft supporting said head, and resilient means cooperating with said shaft for compensating for the wear between the .head, casing, and bearing.

18. The combination with a tank having an inlet in the wall thereof, of a conical coil arranged so that the portion thereof of greatest diameter is in a plane with said inlot, and a vane cooperating with said inlet to spray the fluid passing therethrough over the body of the coil aforesaid.

FRED G. DICKERSON.

Witnesses HERMANN R. MENDIUS, CHARLES S. WILSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

